HomeNewsNews & EventsNews in 90 Seconds: 12 January 2016

News in 90 Seconds: 12 January 2016

Here’s our round-up of the top six headlines in the disability sector.

Seven things you need to know about ‘invisible disabilities’

When people think of the word ‘disability,’ they probably picture a wheelchair user. However,  a lot of disabilities are invisible – that is, from an outsider’s perspective; unnoticeable. People with invisible disabilities suffer quite a bit of discrimination, including “the idea that they must somehow have an ‘easier’ time than visibly disabled people.” This is resoundingly false. Here are seven things you need to know about invisible disabilities.
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Register for the NDS NSW Conference 2016

Disability services providers in NSW are fast approaching the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). In July 2016, the NDIS will begin rolling-out across the rest of NSW, forever changing the landscape for disability service provision in NSW. This conference aims to combine contemporary evidence, research and theory with practical information and conversations to support service providers to positively contribute to the implementation of the NDIS from July 2016 onwards.
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Taxis now more accessible for people with a disability

Access to public transportation is crucial for people with a disability to live a full and independent life. Fortunately in NSW, this will be even easier. Taxi subsidies will double in NSW to increase support for people with disability, in what the NSW Council for Social Service has called “an important step towards a more inclusive community.”
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Disability awareness effort asks people to #JustSayHi

The American-based Cerebral Palsy Foundation has embarked on a new disability campaign called #JustSayHi. The campaign aims to encourage “people to lose their fear of interacting with those who have disabilities.” True to this, Siri, Apple’s virtual personal assistant now answers the question: “How do you start a conversation with someone who has a disability?” with “It’s easy. Just say ‘Hi'.”
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Report reveals uncertainty in the disability sector

NDS’s ‘State of the Sector Report 2015’ exposes a bleak picture of underfunded service providers struggling to deal with low prices set by the government, which may impact how services are delivered to clients. The article argues that for some providers, the NDIS is seen as a pro-business measure designed to promote privatisation of an expensive social program.
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